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DarkSky International, Environment America, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have petitioned the FCC to pause the licensing of orbital data center satellites pending a comprehensive programmatic environmental review. The petitioners argue that current proposals from companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Starcloud, and Cowboy Space—which collectively seek to deploy over a million satellites—would cause unprecedented light pollution, atmospheric degradation, and orbital debris. They contend that the FCC's current practice of categorical exclusion is outdated and fails to account for the synergistic impacts on human health, wildlife, astronomy, and indigenous cultural practices.

The report highlights a growing 'e-mobility divide' where the Global North adopts high-value lithium-ion systems while the Global South relies on affordable but toxic lead-acid batteries. It identifies critical failures in traceability and international governance, specifically within the Basel Convention, which allow for 'waste colonialism' and hazardous informal recycling. The authors argue for mandatory extended producer responsibility, the creation of regional recycling hubs, and the integration of informal workers into formal systems to ensure a just energy transition.

The document highlights the environmental and health risks associated with spreading sewage sludge on approximately 70 million acres of U.S. farmland, noting that such sludge often contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It criticizes the EPA for failing to finalize risk assessments for PFOA and PFOS and for underestimating the risks of over 150 other PFAS chemicals detected in sludge. The text cites specific farm failures in Maine and Michigan due to contamination and notes that while some states like Maine have banned the practice, others still encourage it. The author calls for federal regulations, the protection of local government authority to restrict sludge use, and corporate accountability for clean-up.

The document outlines the severe health risks associated with uranium exploration and mining, emphasizing that uranium is both chemically toxic and radioactive. It highlights the dangers of radon gas, which causes over 100 deaths annually in Nova Scotia and is the primary cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. The text details a wide range of adverse health effects, including kidney failure, DNA damage, and various cancers, noting that women and children are disproportionately susceptible to radiation. It further warns of environmental contamination affecting water, wildlife, and Indigenous communities, specifically mentioning the 'caribou connection' where radionuclides concentrate in lichens. The document concludes that the long-term health and environmental costs of mining, including the need for perpetual monitoring of tailings, would likely outweigh any economic benefits.

The briefing reports a significant industry shift toward offshore oil and gas extraction in 2024, with the vast majority of new discoveries, project approvals, and startups occurring in the oceans. It highlights that 85% of new discoveries by volume were concentrated in ten offshore fields, including major finds in Kuwait and Namibia. The document warns that these developments are incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and pose severe risks to marine ecosystems through noise pollution, habitat loss, and potential oil spills throughout the project lifecycle.

Rhino Oil & Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd has applied for two exploration rights, ER377 and ER378, to explore for natural gas, methane, helium, and hydrogen in the Free State Province. The project involves aeromagnetic surveys and the drilling of up to 20 wells, which may require significant water resources and infrastructure. Potential risks identified include water contamination, soil degradation, air pollution, and disruptions to agriculture and cultural heritage. The document emphasizes that the extraction of natural gas contributes to climate change through methane and carbon emissions. Public comments on the Draft EIA Reports are requested by 6 March 2025.

The report argues that offshore oil and gas activities pose severe threats to the global commons, specifically the oceans and atmosphere. It details how seismic surveys harm marine life, production leads to catastrophic blowouts and underreported methane emissions, transportation increases the risk of spills and invasive species, and improper decommissioning leaves a legacy of leaking 'orphan' wells. The document emphasizes that these risks are magnified by climate change and that existing legal frameworks, including UNCLOS and the polluter pays principle, should be leveraged to phase out offshore fossil fuel extraction.

The briefing examines the role of deep sea mining in providing minerals like cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese for clean energy technologies. It concludes that deep sea mining is unlikely to solve immediate supply crunches because the necessary technology for commercial extraction and processing is not yet available, and the steepest growth in mineral demand is expected before 2035. The document highlights significant environmental risks, regulatory uncertainty surrounding the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the potential for alternatives such as sustainable land mining, recycling, and material substitution to meet demand.

The report contends that PVC poses unmanaged risks to human health and the environment throughout its life cycle, from toxic manufacturing emissions and accident risks to the release of microplastics and hazardous additives. It argues that the ECHA's 2023 investigation provides a sufficient technical basis for a broad ban, as alternatives are available for all assessed uses. The authors criticize the ECHA report for having a narrow scope—analyzing only 13% of PVC additives—and for underestimating the true costs of PVC by ignoring end-of-life disposal and health remediation expenses. It concludes that targeting only a few additives would lead to 'regrettable substitution' and that a full material restriction is the only effective way to prevent the steady increase of PVC and its toxins in the environment.

The document explains that many metals critical for the energy transition and digital transformation are not extracted exclusively but as co-products or by-products of 'host' metals. This complementarity creates inelastic supply chains, high price volatility, and risks of material loss in tailings. It suggests that understanding these associations can help governments and companies identify new sources of minerals, such as reprocessing tailings, and improve national industrial strategies.

The report examines the hazards of coal ash disposal, particularly in the Ohio River Valley, and advocates for 'clean closure' (excavation) over 'cap-in-place' methods. Through case studies of the Sebree Generating Station in Kentucky and the J. M. Stuart Station in Ohio, the authors demonstrate that comprehensive cleanup generates significantly more jobs and economic output than utility-proposed plans. The document highlights the disproportionate impact of coal ash pollution on low-income communities and people of color, and calls for stronger EPA enforcement and state-level regulations to ensure the safe removal of toxic waste.

The report analyzes four federal infrastructure projects in Pará: Ferrogrão, BR-155/158, BR-163/230/MT/PA, and BR-230. Using a 'market access approach', researchers found that these projects collectively risk nearly 7,000 square kilometers of native Amazon vegetation, with 3,800 square kilometers located in Pará. The study highlights significant transparency issues, noting that socio-environmental documents were often unavailable or difficult to access. It argues that the state of Pará should engage in early political coordination with the Federal Government to incorporate deforestation control and land governance measures into project designs, estimating an annual mitigation cost of US$ 43 million for the region.

The report analyzes four federal transport projects in Pará: Ferrogrão, BR-155/158, BR-163/230/MT/PA, and BR-230. It finds that these projects collectively risk nearly 7,000 square kilometers of native Amazon vegetation, with over half of the impact occurring in Pará. The study highlights a systemic lack of transparency regarding socio-environmental documents and argues that the state government should engage in early dialogue with federal authorities to incorporate mitigation costs into project designs. Using a 'market access' methodology, the report quantifies the indirect deforestation risks and suggests that mitigation through funds like the Amazon Fund is more cost-effective than paying the social cost of carbon.

The document highlights the financial backing of Pemex by global banks and investors following a pipeline leak and fire in the Gulf of Mexico. It criticizes Pemex's plans to expand production by 2050 and calls for the financial sector to end support for oil and gas expansion, particularly high-risk offshore drilling, ahead of COP 26.

The document examines the intersection of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction and water security in the Vaca Muerta region, highlighting risks from wastewater management and climate-driven water scarcity.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMR) granted environmental authorisation on 30 June 2025 for Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its partners to conduct oil and gas exploration in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) block. The project area is approximately 5,254km in size, located 300km offshore of Port Nolloth and extending towards Strandfontein in waters 2,500m to 3,200m deep. Shell plans to drill two exploration wells in the first year and three in the second, starting in 2026 or 2027. The document outlines the legal process for appealing this decision to the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) by 29 July 2025, noting that a filed appeal automatically suspends the authorisation under Section 47(7) of NEMA. It also highlights potential environmental and social risks identified in the draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), including underwater noise affecting fish behavior, threats to critically endangered species like blue whales and leatherback turtles, and the risk of oil spills causing toxicity, suffocation of marine fauna, and the smothering of coastal habitats. Additionally, the guide notes potential negative impacts on small-scale fishing livelihoods, tourism, and the spiritual and cultural heritage of indigenous groups such as the First Peoples and Nguni.

The Draft National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) 2019 is a long-term strategic planning instrument for South Africa, mandated by the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP). It aims to dismantle the spatial legacies of colonialism and apartheid by transitioning the country toward an integrated, inclusive, and sustainable national space economy by 2050.

The report details how plastic pollution constitutes a global public health crisis, affecting humans at every stage of the plastic life cycle. It examines the toxic emissions from fracking and petrochemical refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors from packaging, and the health risks associated with microplastics and incineration. The document emphasizes that current fragmented regulatory approaches are insufficient and calls for a global reduction in plastic production to protect human rights and health.

The report details how plastic creates a global health crisis through a complex life cycle. It identifies toxic emissions during fossil fuel extraction (fracking) and refining, the leaching of endocrine disruptors and carcinogens from consumer products, and the release of hazardous metals and dioxins during waste incineration. It further examines the pervasive presence of microplastics in the food chain, drinking water, and human tissues, linking them to inflammation, oxidative stress, and various chronic diseases. The document emphasizes that marginalized communities bear a disproportionate burden of these risks and calls for a transition away from plastic production based on human rights and the precautionary principle.

The report concludes that the proposed Thabametsi Power Plant's coal ash dump is unsuitable and its mitigation measures are insufficient. Key concerns include the siting of the dump atop fault zones, which could facilitate rapid contaminant transport and hinder monitoring, and a groundwater monitoring program that omits numerous critical trace elements. The author also notes significant discrepancies in the applicant's estimated coal combustion residue (CCR) production and argues that the proposed liner system may not meet accepted safety standards, increasing the risk of hazardous waste leaking into water resources used by local populations.